Nikolic 'a proven liar'

Patrick Bartley

A BARRISTER for Racing Victoria Limited told a Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal hearing that jockey Danny Nikolic was a ''liar, a proven liar and who had lied to the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board'' in an earlier hearing.

As closing arguments were being heard, Philip Dunn, QC, for RVL, accused Nikolic of being ''seriously out of control'', adding that Nikolic's evidence should be ''rejected''.

VCAT is hearing an appeal by Nikolic against a two-year disqualification imposed by the RAD Board after it found him guilty of threatening RVL chief steward Terry Bailey at Seymour in September.

Jack Rush, QC, for Nikolic, said the claims by Dunn that his client was ''weak and unmanly'' after the jockey changed his evidence following the RAD Board hearing was rather a ''sign of character'' on Nikolic's behalf.

The disgraced jockey also faced allegations on Tuesday that he had threatened another steward at an earlier VCAT hearing

The court released security footage from outside the VCAT building after the alleged intimidation threats by Nikolic to Wade Hadley. The film shows Nikolic following Hadley out of the building

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In earlier evidence, Hadley said he was shocked and felt threatened by Nikolic. Hadley alleged Nikolic had said: ''I think you're going up in the world, let's see where you end up.'' Nikolic then allegedly called Hadley a ''f---ing fine specimen of a human being''.

Nikolic may face more charges from Racing Victoria at the conclusion of the appeal hearing over the alleged threats.

The VCAT hearing concluded on Tuesday, with Judge Michael Macnamara reserving his decision.

■Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote has been fined $5000.

A post-race swab of Slick Image, who won at the Sunshine Coast on September 23, was found to contain an anti-inflammatory.